Post on 03-Jan-2016
The European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research
Waddah Saab - DG RTD - European Commission
EMODNET Expert Group Brussels – 1 October 2009
Why marine and maritime?…
• One definition is:• ‘Marine’ refers to the physical, environmental
aspects and biological resources of the sea…• ‘Maritime’ refers to transport, offshore
technologies, energy…
• In fact most sea-based activities have both dimensions:
• Mariculture is marine (biological dimension) and maritime (farm equipment and management)
• Fishing is marine (stocks management) and maritime (fishing vessels)
• Dredging is a maritime activity with direct impact on the marine environment
• Wave & tidal energy are marine and maritime … etc.
• We are bound to use two words...
A short history
• May 2004: Galway declaration FP 7• March 2005: Commission (2005-2009)
strategic objectives • EU maritime policy thriving maritime economy…
environmentally sustainable … supported by excellence in marine scientific research, technology and innovation”
• December 2006: FP 7 decision marine science and technologies, a cross-cutting priority area
• June 2007: Aberdeen declaration• October 2007: EU Maritime Policy (Blue Book)
• June 2008: Marine Environment Framework Directive
• September 2008: Adoption of the EU strategy for marine and maritime research
• December 2008: the Council endorses it in its conclusions
Lessons from these past years
• From Galway to the marine/maritime research strategy, we have reached important scientific and policy objectives
• The marine science / maritime policy interface has worked, we have strengthened each other
• A vibrant marine scientific community is a political asset
• Need to consolidate achievements and implement the Strategy with, in particular:
• a more organised science / policy interface • a better understanding of the implications of the MSFD
The drivers for the Marine / Maritime research strategy
• The maritime economy is of crucial importance and we need to further develop it. But…
• there is an increasing environmental pressure from human activities and climate change…
• and an increasing competition for a limited marine space
Marine Ecosystems
GES
Tourism Transport Fishing…
Sea (& land) based activities
Marine Research & Maritime Technologies
Understand & protect
Develop & optimise - MSP
Climate Change
The ideal visionof the Maritime Policy
Energy Aquacult
How far are we from this ideal world?
1. We need more marine research infrastructure to observe & understand impact of human activities & climate change on the marine environment
2. Issues are inter-disciplinary and our research programmes are thematic need for integration of knowledge
3. Seas are shared & major research infrastructure and programmes require funding beyond the capacity of single member states need for more synergy
4. The Commission is used to interact with well-defined scientific and industrial communities we must now deal with an inter-disciplinary, multi-sector scientific & industrial communities need for new governance
The 4 areas mentioned provide broadly the structure of the marine / maritime research strategy
EU and Regional approachRegional scale: *Envt coherence*Economic and social integration*Regional conventions
European scale:*MSFD / EEA *Big technological challenges (e.g. deep sea)*Big infrastructure prog (ARGO, EMSO) *Harmonised methodsservices (GMES)
Capacity Building
Scope:• Support essential research & observation infrastructures
(ESFRI and others) / optimise use of existing ones Marine data infrastructure, research vessels…
• Explore new financing schemes combining various sources of investment
• Promote interdisciplinary skills and innovation capacities
In 2009: Identify funding opportunities (in particular structural funds)
and promote their use for marine research infrastructure EMODNET Action Plan and pilot projects for seabed mapping
In the longer term: Structure and mechanisms for the long term management of
EU marine research infrastructure
Knowledge integration
Scope:• Identify and address cross-thematic research objectives
coordinated calls / joint calls• Provide for integration and efficient use of marine data
bases• Foster knowledge & technology transfer ( maritime
clusters) Between maritime industries and marine science Between different maritime sectors…
In 2009: Joint calls on cross-thematic marine / maritime topics EMODNET Action Plan EMAR²RES project to strengthen cooperation between
maritime industries and marine science
In the longer term: Use the Marine and Maritime Research ‘Forum’ to boost
integration A marine / maritime Knowledge and Innovation Community
under the European Institute of Technology (EIT)?
Tools for integration
• Knowledge integration is the objective, e.g. overall assessment of the GES of the seas
• Knowledge integration can be induced when conceiving research programmes
• It can also take place after completion of research projects through analytical review
• ‘Joint Calls’ is a tool, not a panacea• It is necessary to start joint calls, learn from the experience and adjust
them• Eventually we need to make the most appropriate use of all instruments
• The implementation of the MSFD will require a considerable effort of knowledge integration
• In the very short term, to help DG ENV understand pressures and identify criteria for GES
• In the longer term, to understand interactions between criteria, provide guidance for overall assessment, integrate between different scales (local / regional)
Synergies
Scope: • Promote synergies at national & regional level
Mobilise national & regional funding to reach critical mass to address marine research challenges
• Promote private investments through activities of ETPs and other industry-driven initiatives
In 2009: Approval of new « over-arching » marine ERA-Net BONUS art 169 initiative in the Baltic EATIP Follow up Joint Programming by Member States
In the longer term: Joint programming in marine / maritime topics? Public / Private partnership e.g. in relation to clean ship? Or Initiative related to offshore / deep sea technologies and
platforms?
Need to articulate the 2 levels
GovernanceScope:• Organise the interaction within and with a broad,
multinational, multi-disciplinary scientific and industrial community
• Enhanced and regular dialogue between marine science, policy-makers & maritime industries
In 2009: Support action to strengthen cooperation between maritime
industries and marine science community Science / industry / policy dialogue started this year at the
European Maritime Day in Rome – Next Year in Gijon - Spain Scientific support to the implementation of the MFSD
In 2010 and later: Forum of scientific and industrial stakeholders: promote
consensus on priorities, integrate knowledge, disseminate results…
Structured science / policy interface mechanism in relation to MFSD
Science/Policy/Industry triangle
Marine scientific
community
Policy makers
Structured and strategic support
Structured and strategic knowledge <-> GES, MSP, CFP
Maritime Industries
Scie
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base
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Sust
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Political priorities
Foresight, strategic research priorities
Internalising GES
Envt_performant
maritim
e technologies
International dimension
Scope: • International scientific cooperation with
neighbours in shared seas• International scientific cooperation and
global ocean perspective in large international programmes and infrastructure projects
In 2009, focus on:The Mediterranean (long term framework for
regional cooperation)The Arctic / Atlantic (USA, Canada, Russia…)
In the longer term:Commission to take more global perspective (IOC…)Take a leading role in the global assessment of
Oceans
Role of Commission
• Coordinator / facilitator• Use FP 7 and other community (ERDF) instruments
to implement the strategy by incremental steps• Monitor progress and adjust implementation
• Animator • Use the impetus provided by the EU maritime
policy, the MSFD (GES), CFP reform• Launch or relay ideas with potential long term
impact (JP, structured science / policy interface in relation to MSFD / GES)
• Support national / regional initiatives and promote synergies between them
ConclusionWe can conceptualise the objectives of the marine
and maritime research strategy as:• Understanding the GES of our seas• Maximising the value we extract from our seas in a way that
is compatible with the GES
In the short term, focus on:• Implementing «The Ocean of tomorrow» and preparing
possible future joint calls• Exploring possibilities of funding marine research
infrastructure with structural funds• Bonus 169 and over-arching marine ERA-Net• Support action to the Marine and Maritime Research Forum
• In the longer term:• Develop the «Forum» and design a structured science /
policy interface in relation to MSFD • Clean Ship and / or deep sea challenge initiative • International dimension (Mediterranean, Atlantic/Arctic, IOC
and the global assessment)